The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-04

worth while to thank the junior clerk
for the information he had given, Tom
my was perfectly satisfied. He knew
that people do not forget things which
save their pockets.
1t happened that, some months after
the incident of the Mudford Chemical
Company, Messrs. Hodgson had inn
portant business to transact In Turin.
and it was thought advisable that the
senior partner should proceed to that
city to look after it. There was some
idea, If the prospect seemed favorable,
of starting branch house there. The
question then arose. which Of the clerks
should accompany the head of the firm
as his secretary; and Mr.. Hodgson.
mindful of the service which Mathers
had rendered him, consulted the head
cashier on the .propriety of the selec.
ton. Parkinson. 1t happened. had n
favorte of his own, and Tommy would
have lost his opportunity if he had not
remembered that at one time when he
was bent on acquiring foreign tongues.
he had spent his evenings for few
months over an Italian grammar He
contrived TO let this fact be known, and
in due time Mr. Parr informed his SEN
ior partner that ut seemed that young
MatherS knew something of the Ian.
guage."
This decided the point. Tommy re
ceived his orders, and in three days
more found himself on board the Dover
& Calais packet in charge Of large
dispatch-box and Mr. Hodgson's bulky
portmantcaus. The journey was by no
means comfortable one, for the young
man found tina. he was expected TO
travel second class and generally act
rs courier to his employer. When at
last Turin was reached, things were no
better. Mathers found that his Italian
went but q very little way; and, besides,
he had TO do the work of three clerks.
Sometimes he was tempted to regret
that he had left his comfortable rooms
in Torrington square, Bloomsbury; but
in his calmer moments he reflected that
ut least he was occupying different
position from that of the rest of his fell
low clerks.
The chief man in Turin, so far ii,
Hodgson, Dunford and Parr were con-
cerned, was certain Count Marsoni.
The counts nobility did not prevent
his being the principal member OF a
large firm of merchants and shipown.
crs. To cultivate this man was, in
deed. the chief reason of Mr.. Hodgson's
journey to Turin; and as the old bank
er knew very well how to lay aside his
crusty and pompous manner when 1t
suited his book to do so, he soon came
to be a moi unfrequent guest at the Viii
la Morsoni.
Mr.. Hodgson began to see that Their,
was very fair opening for an English
bank at Turin, and he was still engaged
in pushing his way here and there,
when he received news that his wife
was seriously i'll. This made him hur-
ry of to England, leaving Mathers be-
hind him to complete a transaction
which he had already practically ar
ranged.
Delighted at being left to represent
the firm, for ever so short time, and
ever so formal matter Mathers was
pacing one day down the principal
street of the city with look of consid
cradle Importance on his face when he
met Count Marsonl. The Count stop
ped and asked after the old banker, when
Tommy proudly informed him that he
had returned TO England, leaving him in
charge of the affairs of the firm.
"Ah. indeed! Well, there's little
matter wanted to speak of to him."
II shall be happy to serve you,
Count" said Tommy in his very best
Italian.
We'll, Suppose you dine with us to-
night and we can talk il over after din
ner?n returned the Count, who thought
he ought 10 show little attention 10
the lonely Englishman.
OF course, the invitation was accept.
cd. and Tommy had no sooner entered
the drawingroom at the Villa Marsoni
than he lost his heart at once. irrevoca.
bly, and forever Maria Marsoni was.
indeed beautiful and v.vacious enough
10 turn the head of wiser and colder.
bloodcd man than Tommy Mathers;